Springboard



March 5, 1968 c. w. BUDDO 3,371,928

SPRINGBOARD Filed NOV. 4, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l G; Jim

C. W. BUDDO March 5, 1968 SPRINGBOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1963 i" WAQQ, 7

March 5, 1968 c. w. BuDDo 3,371,928

S PR INGBOARD Filed Nov. v4:, 1965 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Oiice BSYLQZS Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,928 SPRINGBOARD Charles W. Budda, 2 Blythdale Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,011 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-66) The present invention relates to an improved springboard, or diving board, for use with swimming pools and on rafts, docks, pontoon boats, houseboats, and the like.

With the advent of relatively small home size swimming pools it has become desirable to have relatively small springboards for use therewith because springboards of conventional construction are usually too large for such use. Furthermore they are too expensive for such use because they require a relatively complex permanent type of installation. On docks, rafts, pontoon boats, and the like it is also desirable that springboards used thereon be relatively small. It is with the providing of an improved springboard which is especially suitable for use in the foregoing environments, but does not require a complex permanent type of installation that the present invention is concerned.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a relatively lightweight, portable, and inexpensive springboard, employing an improved torsion bar construction, for use with home-type swimming pools, and for use on docks, rafts, boats, and the like. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved springboard construction which is of relatively little depth because of the improved torsion bar construction and therefore can be conveniently carried or stored.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved springboard, employing a torsion bar construction, which is not required to be anchored to a base and therefore can be conveniently moved from place to place, as desired. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved springboard which, notwithstanding that it is not in any way anchored at the location in which it is situated, has great lateral stability and does not creep when it is used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively small springboard which can provide the amount of spring heretofore `obtainable only with relatively large conventional springboards. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved springboard construction which, notwithstanding its relatively small size and relatively lightweight, is constructed to absorb the loading which heretofore could only be applied to relatively large springboards of the conventional permanently installed type. A further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively small springboard which is not only capable of achieving the immediately preceding objects but which also is sufficiently small to be conveniently used on the limited deck area of a home size swimming pool, raft, dock or boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved springboard which may be affixed to supporting structure in an extremely simple manner. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter,

In one embodiment, the improved springboard of the present invention includes a frame which is of generally trapezoidal configuration in plan. The trapezoidal frame has a relatively small base and a relatively large base, said bases being connected to each other `by leg portions. An elongated platform has a first end thereof pivotally secured to the relatively small base of the trapezoidal frame, the second end of said elongated platform being located proximate said relatively large base. A torsion bar of modified U-shaped configuration has a iirst portion thereof secured to said elongated platform proximate said first end thereof in the vicinity of the relatively small base of the trapezoidal frame. Elongated portions of the moditied U-shaped torsion bar extend underneath said elongated platform in contiguous relationship with the bottom surface thereof. Because these elongated portions lie underneath the platform, the latter can be made relatively thin and still resist the normal forces to which the platform is subjected. The modied U-shaped torsion bar has a pair of integral legs located proximate the second end of the platform. These legs extend transversely relative `to the portions of the torsion bar which lie underneath the springboard, each of these legs also extending downwardly toward the trapezoidal frame. The ends of the legs are slidably supported on corner plates or gussets which are affixed to the larger base of the trapezoidal frame. It can readily be appreciated that when the end of the platform is subjected to the force produced by a person springing thereon the torsion bars underneath the platform will twist because relative movement is permitted between the legs of the torsion bar and the platform, It is this twisting action which provides the springboard with the desired spring. Because the spring is obtained as a result of the twisting of the torsion bar, the entire springboard may be made relatively small and `of relatively little depth and is therefore suitable for use with small home size swimming pools and with boats, rafts and docks, where limited space is a factor to be considered. Furthermore, since the desired amount of spring can be obtained with relatively small, lightweight components, the springboard is easily portable. It is to be further noted that the portion of the platform on which a person springs is located proximate the relatively large base of the trapezoidal frame thereby causing the latter to provide the springboard with extremely great lateral stability, notwithstanding that the frame is not anchored. Furthermore, since the end of the platform does not extend beyond the member, such as a dock, on which the springboard is located, the end of the platform does not constitute a hazard to water skiers or boats. While the frame has been represented as trapezoidal, it will be appreciated that it may be made in other suitable geometric shapes. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a springboard is provided which also utilizes a spring construction in the form of a torsion bar. However, the platform in this type of springboard is adapted to extend beyond the edge of a pool or dock to thereby provide a greater amount of spring. In this type of construction an arrangement is provided for positively anchoring the springboard in an extremely simple manner to the base on which it is mounted. Both of the above-described embodiments can include an improved arrangement which permits the board to `occupy a rst position during use or a stored and locked out-of-theway position when it is desired to prevent unauthorized use. The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of the improved springboard of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the springboard of FIGURE l; f

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the springboard of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the construction for anchoring one end of the springboard to the frame, this figure being taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the construction of the end of the torsion bar which is aliixed to the springboard platform, this View being taken along line 5-S of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken along line -dof FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail view taken along line 8-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing relationship between the ends of the legs of the torsion bar and the corners or gussets on which it rests;

FIGURE 9 is a detail view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing a modified form of leg construction for the torsion bar;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE l1 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a further modified embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 13 depicts an anchoring construction which may be used with the embodiments of FIGURES 10, ll, and 12 for locking the springboard in a non-operating position.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 one embodiment of the improved springboard 10 of the present invention is shown. The improved springboard includes a frame 11 which is generally trapezoidal in plan. The trapezoidal frame includes a relatively largevbase 12 and a relatively small base 13. Legs 14 extend from base 12 toward base 13. At the ends of the legs 14 remote from base 12 and formed integrally therewith are upstanding leg portions 15. Portions 16 (FIGURE 4) extend transversely to the upper portions of legs 15 to form the relatively small base 13 of the trapezoidal frame. As can be seen from FIG- URE 4, portions 16 are in substantially abutting relationship to permit the entire trapezoidal frame consisting of portions 12, 15, 15 and 16 to be fabricated from a length of suitable metal. As shown in the drawings, the trapezoidal frame is formed of solid circular bar stock metal. It will be appreciated, of course, that the trapezoidal frame may also be formed of tublar bar stock material of any cross-sectional conguration.

The improved springboard 10 of the present invention also includes a platform 17 which may be fabricated from relatively thin wood or plywood which may be suitably covered with a non-slip paint or plastic coating 18 or may have a rubber sheet bonded thereto. One end of platform 17 is pivotally secured to relatively small trapezoidal base 13 by having the latter enclosed within a slit tubular plastic sleeve 19 (FIGURE 4) which, in turn, is held in assembled relationship on base 13 by portions 20 (FIGURES 2 and 7) of double U-shaped brackets 21. Filler blocks 22 have recesses therein to receive the upper portion of sleeve 19, and said filler blocks 22 lie between sleeve 29 and the bottom surface 23 of platform 17. As can be seen from FIGURE 7 square-headed lag screws 24 extend upwardly through flange portions 25 and 26 of brackets 21 and the ends of said screws extend into platform 17 to thereby securely retain the foregoing structure in assembled relationship while permitting pivotal movement of the end of platform 17 about base 13.

A torsion bar 27 of modified U-shaped construction has a rst portion 28 (FIGURE 5) surrounded by slit plastic sleeve 29. The upper portion of sleeve 29 rests within mating recesses of filer blocks 22 (FIGURE 7) and the lower portion thereof is supported by portions 30 of double U-shaped brackets 21. As can be seen from FIGURE 7, square-headed lag screws 24 extend through anges 30 and 26 adjacent bracket portions 30 to maintain the end 28 of torsion bar 27 in assembled relationship with the end of platform 17. Elongated portions 31 of modied U-shaped torsion bar 27 extend in contiguous relationship to the undersurface 23 of platform 17. The ends (not numbered) of torsion bar portions 31 remote from end 28 are journalled in spaced relationship proximate undersurface 23 of platform 17 by tller block 32 acting in cooperation with strap 33 (FIGURE 6). To complete the foregoing assembly, square-headed llag screws 34 extend through both strap 33 and filler block 32 and are anchored within platform 17, and squareheaded lag screws 35 extend through anges 36 of strap 33 and are anchored in platform 17. Plastic bearing liners 37, which are slit plastic tubes, are interposed between strap 33 and torsion bar portions 31 to prevent metal to metal Contact. Since portions 31 of torsion bar 27 extend substantially thoughout the length of platform 17 the latter may be made of relatively lightweight material since it derives its support from its contiguous relationship with portions 31 of the torsion bar.

The ends of torsion bar 27 are formed into downwardly extending diverging legs 38 which extend in transverse relationship to portions 31 of the torsion bar, legs 3.8 being proximate the base 12 of trapezoidal frame 11. The extreme ends 39y of legs 38 (FIGURE 8) slidably rest on corner or gusset plates 40 (FIGURES 2 and 8) which are suitably secured, as by welding, between relatively large base 12 and legs 14 of frame 11. It can readily be appreciated that when stress is placed upon the end of platform 17, as when a person jumps thereon, the ends 39 of legs 38 will slide outwardly on plates 40 toward corners 41 of frame 11. During such sliding it is portions 31 of modied U-shaped torsion bar 27 which are twisted to provide the desired spring as they -tend to return to their normal unstressed state. In other words the relative movement between rounded end portions 39 and gussets 40 permits platform 17 to move up and `down relative to trapezoidal frame 11. It will be noted that since vlegs 38 are positioned almost directly underneath the extreme end of platform 17 there is no leverage tending to tilt the springboard 10 in a clockwise direction in FIGURE l about relatively large base 12 of lframe 11. In other words, t-he left end Will not leave the ground as a person springs on the right end of the springboard. Thus the above described geometry permits springboard 10 to be used in its intended manner without requiring that it be anchored. It is desirable that cork-neoprene pads `42 be located under and bonded to plates 40 to prevent said plates from marring any surface on which they are situated as well as for preventing the springboard from creeping in use.

It is to be especially noted that since the larger base 12 of frame 11 is located in the vicinity of the end of platform 17 which is used for springing, springboard 10 has an extremely great stability against lateral tilting notwithstanding that it is not rigidly aixed to the surface on which it is located. Furthermore, the relatively small base 13 of trapezoidal frame 11 is located at the rear portion of the platform 17 thereby permitting legs 14 to converge thereto. This converging is desirable because it permits the base 13 to be made of relatively small size for both ease of handling and ease of storage. It can be seen that legs 14 need not be spread apart in the vicinity of relatively small base portion 13 because relatively little lateral stability is required in this area.

A handle 42 is suitably aflixed to the undersurface 23 of platform 17 as by screws 43'. Handle 42 is used for carrying springboard 10.

A modied form of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 9 wherein a leg 38', which corresponds to a leg 38 of FIGURE 8, is threaded at 43 for mating engagement with the tapped portion 44 of shoe 45. By rotating shoes 45 on each of a pair of legs 38', the eifective length of the latter may be changed to thereby adjust the amount of spring which the torsion bar provides. In other words, a heavier person might desire a greater tension in the torsion bar than a lighter person and by decreasing the effective length of legs 38', such increased tension may be obtained. It will be noted that shoes 45 have an undersurface 46 which rests on plates 4t) thereby requiring that shoes 45 be turned for one complete revolution in order to rest properly on plates 40.

asf/1,928

In FIGURES 10and l1 a modified embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment incorporates the basic concept of the other embodiments of the invention, namely, the use of a torsion bar for the purpose of providing a relatively great amount of spring with a relatively short springboard. However, this embodiment is especially suitable for permanent anchoring in applications where portability is not desired. More specifically the platform 50 has a filler block 51 secured to one end thereof. A rod-like member 52, in the form of an inverted U, has downwardly depending leg portions 53, the lower ends of which are welded to a plate or base 54. Suitable apertures (not shown) are located in plate 54 to permit screws 55 to pass therethrough to secure said plate to a base 56, such as the side of a pool. The horizontal portion of U-shaped member 52 is secured relative to filler block 51 in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGURES 4 and 7. A torsion bar 57 is also secured to platform 5G in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGURES 1-3 and it is deemed that further description of this mounting is not necessary. However the outer ends S of torsion bar 57 are received in cup-like members 59. Each cup-like member has `a flange 60 extending about the base thereof for receiving screws 61 which secure said cup-like members to base 56. Cuplike members 59 also have a smooth inner surface 62 which permits the rounded ends 58 of torsion bar 57 to slide thereon when the springboard is being used. It can readily be seen that the foregoing construction permits the mounting of a springboard in a simple and semi-permanent manner. Furthermore it is to be noted that the springboard may be removed from its mounting merely by unscrewing screws 55 and pulling legs 58 together while permitting cups 59 to remain in position. In this manner the springboard may be removed from the side of a pool or the deck of a boat, or the like, for storage. Furthermore because the inverted U-shaped member 52 is 'positively anchored to the base on which it is located, the platform 50 of the springboard may extend outwardly beyond the legs 58 of torsion bar 57. This permits the resiliency of the platform 56 itself to contribute toward the resiliency of the springboard. Furthermore this type of construction wherein the end of the platform extends beyond the legs 58 is desirable in certain environments wherein there is a ledge or the like extending beyond the base on which cups 59 are mounted, thereby insuring that a person going olf of the end of the springboard will clear such ledge.

A further modified embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 12. In this embodiment the end 63 of platform 64 is secured to an inverted U-shaped member 65 in the same manner described above with respect to FIGURE 10. However in this embodiment the torsion bar 66, which may be of the same construction shown in FIGURES and 11, has the end 67 thereof anchored to a central portion of platform 64 by means of a filler block 68, tubular sleeve 69, U-Shaped bracket 70 and screws 71 in an analogous manner to that de scribed above in FIGURES 4 and 7. Cup-like members 59 are provided in this embodiment for receiving legs 72 of the torsion bar in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGURES 10` and 11. The portion of torsion bar 66 adjacent to legs 72 is anchored to platform 64 in the same manner as described above relative to FIGURE 6. The construction of FIGURE l2 is particularly suitable in situations wherein a relatively elongated springboard is desired. This embodiment in addition to being elongated possesses the features enumerated above with respect to FIGURES l() and 11.

In certain situations it is desirable that the semi-permanently installed springboard of the general types shown in FIGURES 10-12 be readily movable to an inoperative position when it is not in use. For this purpose the fixed end 73 of springboard 74 is hingeclly secured to a block 75 by hinge 76, block 75 in turn being secured to a base 77, such as the side of a pool, by means of screws 7S. Block 75 may extend throughout the width of the platform 74 or a plurality of aligned and spaced blocks may be used, each having a hinged connection between them and platform 74. The anchoring construction of FIG- URE 13 may be used with any of the embodiments shown in FIGURES 10-12.

The springboard occupies the solid line position shown in FIGURE 13 when it is in condition to be used, hinge 76 providing the pivotal movement at the fixed end of thespringboard. However in certain instances it is desirable to place platform 74 in a position wherein it cannot be used. This is Vachieved by moving platform '74 from its solid line position to its dotted line position about hinge 76. After such movement has been effected, platform 74 may be locked in its vertical position by the use of a hasp 82 by inserting a lock 79 through the loop 80 secured to the end 73 of platform '74 after plate 81 of hasp 82 has been placed in position over loop 80. The foregoing construction not only permits platform 74 to be moved into an out of the way position to conserve floor space but also prevents unauthorized use of the springboard. While the locking construction has been described specifically relative to the construction of FIGS. 10-12, it will be appreciated that it may be incorporated in the other embodiments with suitable modifications of the latter.

It will thus be seen that the springboard of the present invention is manifestly capable of achieving the above enumerated objects and while embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed it will be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A manually portable, free standing springboard, comprising an elongated platform having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, a substantially trapezoidal tubular base frame having a narrow end arranged under said first end of said platform and a wide end arranged under said second end of said platform :and having outboard extremities at said second` end extending horizontally laterally outwardly beyond said second end of said platform and diverging leg portions joining said narrow end and said wide end, means pivotally attaching said first end of said platform to said narrow end of said base frame for movement about a generally horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, torsion bar means including a first portion attached to said platform proximate said first end thereof .and second portions extending longitudinally of said platform and located undernearth said platform and leg portions connected to said second portions and extending laterally outwardly from said second end of said platform toward said outboard extremities of said wide end of said base frame, means supporting said leg portions of said torsion bar on said outboard extremities of said base frame, whereby in action said outboard extremities of said base frame not only provide lateral base stability at said second end of said platform but also provide widely spaced spring support for said second end of said platform on said base frame.

2. A portable springboard comprising a unitary rodlike trapezoidal-inplan frame having a relatively narrow end and a relatively wide end with converging leg portions extending from said wide end toward said narrow end with said narrow end being elevated above said wide end and being connected to said converging leg portions by vertically extending portions, an elongated platform having a longitudinal axis and having an undersurface and having a first end proximate said narrow end of said frame and a second end proximate said wide end of said frame, means for journalling said undersurface of said platform proximate said first end on said narrow end of said frame for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said platform, unitary torsion bar means including a first portion secured to said undersurface of said platform remote from said second end and having elongated second portions in contiguous relationship to said undersurface and extending substantially longitudinally thereof toward said second end, a downwardly depending leg portion extending from each of said second portions, and gusset plate means secured substantially at the junction of said converging leg portions and said wide end of said base for engaging the ends of said depending legV portions for sliding movement.

3. A free standing springboard comprising a unitary rod-like frame having tirst and second ends connected by connecting leg portions, an elongated platform having opposite sides and first and second ends with said second end of said platform being located proximate said second end of said frame and with said opposite sides lying inwardly of said connecting leg portions of said frame, means connecting said rst end of said platform to said first end of said frame for pivotal movement thereabout with said first end of said frame and said first end of said platform being substantially coextensive, elongated spring means connected to the undersurface of said platform and having downwardly inclined laterally extending leg portions with outer ends extending outwardly beyond said opposite sides of said platform toward said connecting leg portions at said second end of said platform with said second end of said frame extending laterally outwardly beyond said sides of said platform at said second end thereof, and plate means secured to said frame proximate the junction of said :second end and said Connecting leg portions for slidingly supporting said outer ends of said elongated spring means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 112,037 2/1871 Hershey et al.

116,186 6/1871 Hershey.

130,491 8/1872 Dudley 267-57 171,401 12/1875 McKown 267-57 436,462 9/1890 Reach 272--66 1,210,920 1/1917 Fletcher 272-66 1,347,510 7/1920 Johnson et al. 272-66 2,024,028 12/1935 Dahlberg et al. 272--66 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,807 12/1884 Germany.

Exam inerS.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,371 ,928 March 5 1968 Charles W. Buddo It s certified that error appears n the above dentfed patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 35, for "l5", first occurrence, read 14 Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edwgrd M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Atfesting Officer 

3. A FREE STANDING SPRINGBOARD COMPRISING A UNITARY ROD-LIKE FRAME HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS CONNECTED BY CONNECTING LEG PORTIONS, AN ELONGATED PLATFORM HAVING OPPOSITE SIDES AND FIRST AND SECOND ENDS WITH SAID SECOND END OF SAID PLATFORM BEING LOCATED PROXIMATE SAID SECOND END OF SAID FRAME AND WITH SAID OPPOSITE SIDES LYING INWARDLY OF SAID CONNECTING LEG PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME, MEANS CONECTING SAID FIRST END OF SAID PLATFORM TO SAID FIRST END OF SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREABOUT WITH SAID FIRST END OF SAID FRAME AND SAID FIRST END OF SAID PLATFORM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE, ELONGATED SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID PLATFORM AND HAVING DOWNWARDLY INCLINED LATERALLY EXTENDING LEG PORTIONS WITH OUER ENDS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PLATFORM TOWARD SAID CONNECTING LEG PORTIONS AT SAID SECOND END OF SAID PLATFORM WITH SAID SECOND END OF SAID FRAME EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID SIDES OF SAID PLATFORM AT SAID SECOND END THEREOF, AND PLATE MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME PROXIMATE THE JUNCTION OF SAID SECOND END AND SAID CONNECTING LEG PORTIONS FOR SLIDINGLY SUPPORTING SAID OUTER ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED SPRING MEANS. 